Famous Iowa Conservationists

To understand Iowa’s early conservationists we need to examine the world in which they grew up. Iowa’s landscape is one of the most altered in our nation. When Iowa’s early conservationists were growing up Iowa’s landscape was at the pinnacle of change. Iowa’s natural areas were being altered and destroyed and wildlife was being hunted with little regulation. As a whole, they were Iowan’s who spent time outside in the natural world as children and youths. They developed a connect with, and a love of nature, and became crusaders for the natural world when they saw its wanton destruction.

Studying Iowa’s famous conservationist should serve as a lesson to us as we educate and raise future generations. Children and youth who spend time outdoors in our natural world will develop a life-long love and appreciation for nature. If we want children to grow up to be stewards of the land we need to get them outside now.

To learn more about famous Iowa conservationists visit the ISU Extension webpage below and download your free copy of “Important Iowa Conservationist”.
Important Iowa Conservationists – Iowa Natural Resource Heritage Serieshttps://store.extension.iastate.edu/ItemDetail.aspx?ProductID=2136

Educator Book List
Broda, H. W. 2011. Moving the Classroom Outdoors. Stenhouse Publishers.
Cornell, J. B. 1998. Sharing Nature with Children (20th Anniversary Edition). Dawn Publications.
Chalufour, I., and K. Worth. 2003. Discovering Nature with Young Children.Redleaf Press.
Dinsmore, J. J. 1994. A Country So Full of Game: The Story of Wildlife in Iowa. University of Iowa Press.
Lendt, D.L. 1989. Ding: The Life of Jay Norwood Darling. Wiley, John & Sons, Incorporated.
Leopold, A. 1989. A Sand County Almanac. Oxford University Press.
Louv, R. 2008. Last Child in the Woods: Saving Our Children From Nature-Deficit Disorder. Algonquin Books.
Ross, C., and T. Gladfelter. 1995. Kids in the Wild: A Family Guide to Outdoor Recreation. Mountaineer Books.
Stein, S. 2001. Noah's Children: Restoring the Ecology of Childhood. North Point Press.
VanCleaves, J. 1997. Janice VanCleave's Play and Find Out About Nature: Easy Experiments for Young Children. Wiley.
Van Tilburg, C. 2005. Introducing Your Kids to the Outdoors. Stackpole Books.
Weisner, C. 2003. Let's Get Going: The Step-by-Step Guide to Successful Outings with Children. Red Deer Press.

Children’s Book List
Arnosky, J. 1998. Animal Tracker. Random House Value Publishing, Inc.
Arnosky, J. 1997. Bird Watcher. Random House Children's Books.
Arnosky, J. 1997. Bug Hunter. Random House Children's Books.
Arnosky, J. 1993. Crinkleroot's Guide to Walking in Wild Places. Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing.
Asch, F. 1994. The Earth and I. Gulliver Green.
Bishop, N. 2002. Backyard Detective: Critters Up Close. Scholastic, Inc.
Boring, M. 1999. Fun with Nature. T&N Children's Publishing.
Boring, M. and L. Evert. 2001. More Fun with Nature. Northword Press.
Capogna, V.V. 1999. Did You Ever Wonder about Things You Find in Your Backyard? Marshall Cavendish Inc.
Fredericks, A.D. 2005. Near One Cattail: Turtles, Logs and Leaping Frogs. Dawn Publications.
Fredericks, A.D.  2006. On One Flower: Butterflies, Ticks and a Few More Icks. Dawn Publications.
Fredericks, A.D. 2001. Under One Rock: Bugs, Slugs and Other Ughs. Dawn Publications.
Glaser, L. and E. Kleven. 2000. Our Big Home: An Earth Poem. Lerner Publishing Group
Kalman, B. 1993. The Colors of Nature. Crabtree Publishing Company.
Kirkland, J. 2001. Take a Backyard Bird Walk. Stillwater Publishing.
Kirkland, J. 2006. Take a City Nature Walk. Stillwater Publishing.
Kirkland, J. 2002. Take a Tree Walk. Stillwater Publishing.
Kranz, L. 2002. My Nature Book: A Journal and Activity Book for Kids. T&N Children's Publishing.
Loy, J. 2003. Follow the Trail: A Young Persons Guide to the Great Outdoors. Holt, Henry Books for Young Readers.
Maas, D.R. 2001. Kids Gone Fishin': The Young Angler's Guide to Catching More and Bigger Fish. Northword Press.
Milord, S. 1996. The Kids' Nature Book: 365 Indoor/Outdoor Activities & Experiences. Ideals Publications.
Ryder, J., and D. Nolan. 1990. Under Your Feet. Simon & Schuster Children’s Publishing.
Schimmel, S. 2002. Children of the Earth…Remember. T&N Children's Publishing.
Schimmel, S. 1994. Dear Children of the Earth: A Letter from Home. T&N Children's Publishing.
Yolen, J. and J. Stemple. Color Me a Rhyme: Nature Poems for Young People. Boyds Mills Press.